Course Descriptions

Two of your first-year courses will be taught in a small section of about 20 students, providing personal interaction with professors, an informal learning atmosphere that encourages in-depth discussion and analysis, and the opportunity to bond with classmates who will be friends and professional colleagues for years to come.

First-Year Courses

This course will examine all phases of the litigation process in civil actions. Specific subjects covered may include: pleadings; discovery; disposition of cases without trial; the right to jury trial; post-trial motions; appeals; the bases for jurisdiction over persons and property; notice; venue; subject matter jurisdiction; choice of federal or state law in diversity cases; joinder of claims and parties; and preclusive effects of judgments. Required course. LEC.

An introduction to the law of the United States Constitution, including the historical context and evolution of constitutional principles, methods of constitutional interpretation and analysis, and basic doctrine concerning the structure of government and the protection of individual rights. Doctrinal coverage includes separation of powers, federalism, equal protection, due process, and freedom of religion. Required course. LEC.

An introduction to contract law, including topics such as offer and acceptance, consideration, contracts enforceable without consideration, defenses to enforcement of contracts, terms of contracts and their interpretation, performance and breach of contracts, remedies for breach, third-party beneficiaries, and assignments. Required course. LEC.

This course introduces students to legal systems and the skills of lawyers. It includes instruction and discussion on legal traditions, legal institutions and legal methods. It focuses on developing students' skills in legal reasoning, writing and research. Students will complete numerous research and writing assignments, culminating in an open memorandum. Required course. LEC.

In this course, students build on the research and writing skills they developed in the first semester and practice additional skills such as client interviewing, negotiation and mediation. Students learn about the expectations and demands of lawyers and the legal profession through instruction on bar admission, professionalism, and ethical advocacy, and by working on assignments in a simulated lawsuit. Student work culminates in an advocacy brief and subsequent oral argument. Required course. LEC.

An introduction to personal property law and to real property law, which includes adverse possession, estates in land, cotenancies, landlord-tenant law, easements, and real covenants, and which may include other private and public land use controls, eminent domain, and conveyancing. Required course. LEC.

Once you have conquered your first-year requirements, you will have access to more than 100 upper-level courses in a variety of practice areas, from agricultural law to sports law. Many are seminars, simulation courses, directed research or clinics.

Upper-Level Courses

LAW 803 Legal Analytics

Legal analytics is the systematic computational analysis of legal data or statistics. This class teaches students how to use mathematical, statistical, and data analytical approaches to analyzing sources of law such as judicial decisions, briefs, motions, statutes, rules and regulations, legal commentary (e.g., law review articles, treatises), and the vast amounts of data generated by legal institutions (e.g., HHS, USPTO, IRS, SEC, EPA, USDA, FBI). Students will learn how to identify sources of legal data, assemble legal data into usable forms (e.g., database), clean and measure legal data, analyze legal data (e.g., using statistical tests, crowd-sourcing, artificial intelligence, network analysis), interpret results of legal data analysis, and present results of legal data analysis to different audiences (e.g., juries, judges, attorneys, regulators, investors, politicians, the public). The class will include problem sets designed to ensure student mastery of all methods covered. In addition, students will learn how to use powerful legal analytics software tools — access to which will be provided free by commercial vendors for student use — capable of discovering, analyzing, interpreting, communicating, and visualizing legal data. Upon completion of this class, students will possess experience and expertise in all major legal analytics methods.

In Electronic Discovery I, students explored the developing trends in the increasingly prevalent field of electronically stored information ("ESI") in the discovery phase of litigation. Electronic Discovery II is a course that offers students the opportunity to use and build on the concepts they learned in Electronic Discovery I and put their knowledge into practice. Prerequisite: Electronic Discovery I. LEC.

This course examines the role of the legal issues surrounding the legislative process. Topics covered include the representative character of the legislature, constitutional and internal rules governing legislative deliberation, and inputs into the legislative process, such as campaign spending and lobbying. The course incorporates a statutory drafting exercise that culminates in a simulated legislative hearing. LEC.

This course examines the role of the legal issues surrounding the legislative process. Topics covered include the representative character of the legislature, constitutional and internal rules governing legislative deliberation, and inputs into the legislative process, such as campaign spending and lobbying. The course incorporates a professional writing requirement related students' filed placements in the program. LEC.

A study of federal and state regulation of union-employer relationships in the public sector. Subjects include public employee organizational rights, public sector union security arrangements, the duty of public employers to bargain and the subjects upon which bargaining is required or permitted, limitations on public employees' right to strike and public sector impasse and dispute resolution procedures, including interest arbitration. Prerequisite: LAW 939, or concurrent enrollment acceptable. LEC.

This course is designed to focus on the special role of the prosecutor in the criminal justice system, and to provide an in depth look at the unique ethical and professional issues that government lawyers face in criminal cases. It uses the problem approach to the subject, and the readings and other supplements are organized around a set of hypothetical situations encountered by prosecutors at various stages of prosecution. LEC.

In this course students will read and discuss materials that provide a basic introduction to the legal, governmental, and policy issues that confront those with responsibility for ensuring the safety of American interests abroad and in the American homeland from both human caused and naturally occurring problems originating abroad. In the class we will read and discuss materials dealing with the legal, governmental, and policy aspects of this subject such as treaties, international organizations, customary international law, the law of armed conflict, and other relevant materials. We will discuss such problems as internationally originated cyber-attacks, international environmental problems and disasters, epidemics and quarantine laws, etc. Students will be required to take both a midterm and a final examination. LEC.

In this course students will read and discuss materials that provide a basic introduction to the legal, governmental, and policy issues that confront those with responsibility for ensuring the safety of the American homeland. We will be covering American statutes, case law, Presidential executive orders, and other legal sources that regulate issues such as cyber-security, management of natural disasters, failures in utility networks and other vital domestic infrastructure, etc. Students will be required to take both a midterm and final examination. LEC.

This course will be taught during the full academic year. The class is divided into three parts: Fall: One credit hour in which students will read materials on a specific potential threat to homeland security. Students will be expected to discuss the reading materials at each class meeting and will prepare a short memorandum at the end of the first semester on their reading. Spring: Two credit hour part in which students will divide into teams that will work together for the rest of the academic year. Each tem will be expected to create a long-term strategy both to mitigate potential dangers from the threat assigned for the year and to formulate a short-term action plan to be utilized in the event that the threat materializes. Students will be evaluated on the long-term and short-term planning documents they prepare. Final Simulation: Final three credit hour part consists of a five day intensive real time simulation in which each team will be required to deal with an emerging threat as though they were, in fact, an emergency management team dealing with a real threat. Each team will be monitored by a real world professional emergency manager. The actual simulation will last for two full days. A second two day period will consist of analysis and evaluation of each team's actions by the monitors and the simulation leaders. The final day will be for each individual to prepare a comprehensive analysis of her actions and the actions of her team with suggestions for improvement. FLD.

This course examines the intersection between the Constitution and the pressing demand for information regarding threats to national security. Topics covered include a general overview of separation of powers and rule of law constraints on military action, limits on both physical and digital searches and seizures, and constraints on interrogation. Students will learn basic rules regarding these topics and apply them through a series of case studies. LEC.

This course provides an opportunity for upper-level students to develop the skills needed to represent clients ordered to mediate civil disputes and/or serve as a mediator in civil disputes. The course takes an in-depth look at conflict resolution techniques, neutrality, drafting agreements and mediation statements, communication skills, ethics, attorney/mediator preparation, confidentiality, privilege and the law governing mediation. Students will be required to read, draft, conduct limited research, attend a mediation, and participate in role play exercises to simulate all stages of mediation. No prerequisites, although students may find it helpful to have taken LAW 860, Alternative Dispute Resolution. Students are prohibited from taking LAW 823 if they have taken LAW 822. LEC.

This course provides an opportunity for upper-level students to develop the skills needed to represent clients in mediation during divorce proceedings. Students will also learn how to serve as a mediator for divorcing parties splitting assets and/or developing a parenting plan. The course takes an in-depth look at conflict resolution techniques, child development, family systems, psychological aspects of divorce, domestic violence screening, issues specific to qualified domestic orders and military divorces, communication skills, ethics, attorney/mediator preparation, confidentiality, privilege, and the law governing mediation. Students will be required to read, draft, conduct limited research and participate in role play exercises to simulate all stages of mediation. No prerequisites, although students may find it helpful to have taken LAW 860, Alternative Dispute Resolution. Students are prohibited from taking LAW 822 if they have taken LAW 823. LEC.

This course aims to complement the more foundational courses in public international law, international business law, and comparative law by examining a cluster of particularly important "global challenges." These involve (i) the rule (and role) of law in international relations, (ii) the economic, environmental, and social aspects of modern agriculture, (iii) the quest and prospects for human development, and (iv) the existential threats posed to the ecosphere through climate change, soil degradation, water conflicts, and species extinctions. The course provides also a "paper option": students enrolling in a third credit hour through Independent Research (LAW 924) can, upon satisfactory completion of a research project related to the subject-matter of this course, satisfy the upper-class scholarly-writing requirement. LEC.

This field placement will be worth three, six, or nine credit hours. Students will work in a public policy or public interest placement, earning one credit hour for each 42.5 hours of work. Students will also be required to complete written work. This written work is comprised of a goal-setting memo, weekly journal entries, and a final reflection paper. Students are also required to participate in monthly full-day programming sessions. These programming sessions will include meetings with practitioners to learn about practice in D.C. and substantive areas of law that are commonly practiced there. There will be no co- or prerequisites for this field placement. Finally, students are expected to take advantage of a mentoring program and planned opportunities to meet KU Law alumni set up by the KU Law School. FLD.

This course covers both law "as" literature and law "in" literature, plus legal rhetoric. In Part One, treaties are studied as a form of literature using literary criticism methods, comparing and contrasting those methods with standard legal interpretation tools. In Part Two, classic works of fiction and poetry, such as those by William Shakespeare (England), Albert Camus (France), E.M. Forster (England), Seamus Heaney (Ireland), Franz Kafka (Czechoslovakia), and Rabindranath Tagore (India), are read closely to spot enduring legal themes common across all countries, including justice and morality, obedience and rebellion, wealth and poverty, and fairness and prejudice. In Part Three, renowned historical speeches are analyzed to see how they manifest Aristotle's five principles of Rhetoric, with illustrations from Winston Churchill (England), John F. Kennedy (United States), and Martin Luther King (United States). LEC.

This simulation and professional writing course will serve as an optional lab component for students who are concurrently enrolled in LAW 947 Mergers and Acquisitions, or have previously completed it. This course introduces students to the ethical, structural and technical aspects of negotiating and drafting the documents that bring a business transaction to life. By following a complex business transaction from start to finish, students will gain experience grappling with the type of tasks and issues common to a deals practice in a way that bridges the gap between law school and practice. The course will also help students prioritize their clients' business objectives and understand how deal lawyers create value, manage risk, and work toward optimal outcomes for their clients. The course will be co-taught by law school faculty and experience transactional attorneys. Prerequisite: Contract Drafting and either Business Organizations or Business Associations I and II. Corequisite: Mergers and Acquisitions. LEC.

This one-credit-hour course focuses primarily on the preparation of operational documents relating to international business transactions - for example, transnational sales contracts, letters of credit, explanatory memoranda to business clients planning cross-border transactions, international joint venture agreements, etc. - rather than on the drafting of documents that are litigation-oriented or academic in character. The course is available to students who are (or have) enrolled in the International Commerce and Investment course and who wish to engage in an intense set of "companion" legal-drafting exercises. Prerequisite: LAW 945. LEC.

This course, focused on the United States asylum law and procedure, offers practical training in representing asylum seekers. It complements, but is independent of, LAW 923 (Immigration Law) and Law 978 (Refugee and Asylum Law). Using client simulations, students will explore the statutory case law framework of U.S. asylum law and related remedies, become familiar with the asylum process, and develop interviewing, oral advocacy, and legal writing skills necessary for effective advocacy of this vulnerable population. Blended Instruction. No prior knowledge of immigration or asylum law assumed. LEC.

Students write content for a Guide to Media and the First Amendment, a project of the Media, Law and Technology program at the School of Law. Written work consists of analytical accounts of First Amendment and related law that is of concern to media lawyers in Kansas and other jurisdictions. Students also may be assigned to produce such work as advisories on emerging legal issues, as well as model briefs and public policies. The students' writing is expected to be comparable to works by members of the bar and published by media law or policy institutes, providers of continuing legal education about communications law and bar associations that address issues related to media and the First Amendment. LEC.

Students who have completed a first semester in the Legal Aid Clinic are eligible to apply for enrollment in a second semester as an Advanced Legal Intern. Advanced Legal Interns will continue to represent clients in the Clinic's case work as they did during the first semester; however, they will only be required to commit 10.5-12 hours per week to Clinic work. They will be expected to exercise greater independence and professional role assumption and will mentor newer Clinic students in skills development. Advanced Legal Interns will continue to engage in reflective writing and supervision sessions with faculty; they also will meet as a group with professors for a classroom component featuring a seminar focused on case rounds and advanced litigation skills. Prerequisite: Legal Aid Clinic. FLD.

This seminar addresses a fundamental legal question, i.e. what rights are to be accorded to animals both in nature and in human society? The participants will read and discuss a number of theories of animal rights based upon philosophical, religious, pragmatic, and biological bases and will explore the legal and jurisprudential ramifications of these theories. Students will be required to write a substantial research paper of publishable quality. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. LEC.

This simulation course will expose students to the due diligence process that is critical to every business transaction. It offers students a realistic due diligence setting, in which they will: learn the fundamental scope and goals of the process, including the various types of information that must be obtained and reviewed; identify the typical issues that must be analyzed; practice using a framework for systematically accumulating information; and understand how that information may affect the structure of the transaction and the content of the agreement that memorializes it. Taught by law school faculty and experienced transactional attorneys. Prerequisite: Contract Drafting and either Business Organizations or Business Associations I and II. Corequisite: Mergers and Acquisitions. LEC.

Following a nonprofit and tax-exempt organization law refresher and overview, the course focuses on application of the fundamental exemption requirements; charitable and other categories of exempt organizations; the application for recognition of exemption process; private inurement, private benefit, and intermediate sanctions; governance policies and procedures; public charities and private foundations; lobbying and political campaign activity; the unrelated business rules; use of subsidiaries; exempt organizations' involvement in joint ventures; annual reporting to the IRS; and charitable giving and fundraising law. Teaching emphasis will be on case hypotheticals. LEC.

The course will explore the domestic sale of goods as governed by Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The course will also address other significant statutory regimes governing the sale of goods such as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and state consumer rights statutes. The course will also cover statutory regimes regulating e-commerce such as the ESIGN Act. The course may also address, although in less detail, the international sale of goods as governed by the United Nation Covenant on the International Sale of Goods. Students, in addition to exposure to substantive contract law doctrine, will develop significant statutory construction skills. Prerequisite: LAW 809 or an equivalent. LEC.

The workshop will expose students to the substantive and procedural law as well as the ethical rules pertaining to expert witness testimony. Moreover, it will provide a realistic courtroom setting where students will learn to conduct and defend a series of expert witness examinations and cross-examinations in a simulated environment under the direction and guidance of experienced attorneys who will serve as the workshop faculty. Workshop faculty will evaluate each student and provide immediate critical and helpful feedback to the students after each testimonial performance. It is anticipated that each student will conduct and defend a total of at least five (5) mini expert witness examinations and/or cross-examinations during a one credit-hour workshop or ten (10) in a two credit-hour workshop. LEC.

This practicum serves the dual goals of providing students with practical research experience and assisting the Kansas Supreme Court by providing needed research support. Students are assigned research projects from the Kansas Supreme Court and the Office of Judicial Administration as arranged by the instructors. Students employ a variety of methodologies to conduct thorough research and concisely convey their findings to the Kansas Supreme Court, culminating with a presentation to the court at the end of the semester. FLD.

This course will explore the role of law in contemporary Chinese society from a historical and comparative perspective. This course complements (but is independent of) Law 879. The focus of the course is on China's administrative and legal institutions and legal reform efforts since 1978, with some coverage of China's traditional legal order and the historical influences on China's legal institutions and attitudes toward law from the early twentieth century to the present. Specific topics in modern Chinese law will vary but may include contract, property, criminal, business, intellectual property, environmental, and labor law, wand human rights. Due to the volume of material we will cover in a limited time, the legal systems of Greater China (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) will not be covered in this course. No Chinese language skill is necessary for this course and not prior familiarity with China or East Asia is assumed. LEC.

All 50 states have their own constitutions and cases interpreting those charters. State constitutions sometimes mirror or duplicate federal constitutional provisions, but state constitutions also contain provisions not found in the U.S. constitution. In our federal system, both federal and state constitution law are important and vibrant. This course explores the similarities and the differences in federal and state constitutional law. Coverage includes structural aspects of state constitutional law (dual sovereignty, interpreting state constitutions independently of the federal constitution, the organization of state government., restrictions unique to the state constitutions, and the amendment process, as well as individual rights under state constitutions (equality, due process, criminal procedure, property, religion education, "right to a remedy"/"open courts", and privacy). Prerequisite: Introduction to Constitutional Law. LEC.

This course will explore the development of legal ideas about the legal regulation of armed conflict, with special attention given to the role and treatment of civilians and other non-combatants. It will not cover American military justice under the Uniform Code of Military Justice nor will it cover internal discipline of military forces. Among the subjects covered will be the history of attempts to legally regulate armed conflict, the law of war at sea, in the air, and in space, treatment of civilians by combatants, treatment of property, particularly significant cultural property by combatants, and non-military combatants, including pirates and terrorists. LEC.

This course deals with issues relating to a court's power to adjudicate claims. Topics covered may include jurisdiction over persons or property, subject matter jurisdiction, venue, determining the applicable law, joinder of parties, and recognition and enforcement of judgments. Prerequisite: Civil Procedure. Not open to students who have had the School's two-semester, six-hour course or its equivalent. LEC.

This course provides an opportunity for upper-level students to practice legal writing skills. It focuses on writing for law practice. Students will draft and revise several documents; engage in editing, workshopping and peer critique; and receive intensive feedback from the instructor. By the end of the course, students will have the beginnings of a document portfolio to take with them into their first years of law practice. Prerequisite: Lawyering Skills I and Lawyering Skills 2. LEC.

The separation and delegation of powers. The development of administrative function. Administrative discretion, notice, hearing, jurisdiction, conclusiveness of determination, and judicial control. Examination of current problems in various administrative processes. LEC.

Considers in depth a number of topics not covered or only briefly covered in first year contracts, which may include contract interpretation, third party beneficiaries, assignment and delegation, the overlap of contract and tort, and the enforceability of particular provisions. Commercial Law: Secured Transactions or Commercial Law: Payment Systems will be an asset. Prerequisite: Contracts. LEC.

This course will focus on the regulation of financial institutions, including depository institutions (banks, thrifts and credit unions), securities broker-dealers, insurance companies and investment companies. Emphasis will be on the laws governing banks and their corporate families, including issues pertaining to corporate structure, capitalization, liquidity and business activities. LEC.

Focuses on advanced legal research methodologies and sources related to a specific area of law. The area of law will be selected by the instructor and announced prior to enrollment, and could include environmental law, criminal law, tribal law, business law, intellectual property, or international law, among others. Depending on the area of law being covered, sources will include administrative materials, loose-leaf services, treatises, practice materials, association regulations, commercial databases, and the Internet. Students will prepare a research plan in a specific area of the law being covered. Each student will turn in research logs that document the steps taken to complete research problems. LEC.

A study of the effect of the federal income tax on corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, as well as their owners. Includes coverage of federal income tax provisions having especially important effects on business activities in general. Prerequisite: Federal Income Taxation and Business Associations I or Business Organizations. LEC.

Spring semester. Evaluates important legal research tools and techniques not covered in the required first year Lawyering course. Provides an in-depth look at Kansas materials, legal reference books, form books, and computer-assisted research. Research aids in selected subject areas will also be examined. LEC.

This professional skills course builds on the foundational trial skills taught in Trial Advocacy. Through repeated trial performance in a realistic courtroom setting, students will master trial skills such as case analysis and planning, applied legal storytelling, witness examination, and application of the rules of evidence. Special topics may include admitting contemporary forms of evidence and using technology in the courtroom. Prerequisite: Evidence and Trial Advocacy. FLD.

This class is about Contemporary Food Production and Food Safety Issues. This class should be taken by anyone who has a general interest in legal issues concerning agriculture and food production and/or who may practice law in a state that has a significant agriculture industry. Roughly twenty five per cent of the class will focus on the role of law in dealing with food safety issues. Areas to be considered include, biotechnology [genetically modified crops (GMOs) and animal cloning], BSE (mad cow disease) testing and traceability of sick or contaminated animals, bio-terrorism and food labeling. The other parts of the course will cover more traditional production issues. These will include such things as: the current world controversy focusing on the role of government subsidies in U.S.; barriers of entry into farming; leasing of agricultural land; the marketing and storing of commodities, special secured financing rules in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code relating to agriculture credit, the impact of the bankruptcy of a warehouse (elevator) containing producers' stored commodities and problems confronting the livestock industry. LEC.

This professional skills course will expose students to substantive and procedural law, as well as the ethical rules, pertaining to depositions. It provides students a realistic deposition setting in which they will learn to conduct and defend a series of depositions in a simulated environment under the direction of experienced attorneys who serve as the workshop faculty. Prerequisite: Evidence. LEC.

This course introduces the student to arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and other methods for resolving disputes. In addition to serving as alternatives to the court system, these processes also play an increasingly important role in litigation and settlement. This is a survey course, which may include exercises to develop skills such as interviewing, counseling, and negotiation. FLD.

Covers the Sherman Antitrust Act and related federal legislation designed to control the competitive practices and structure of American industries. Examines the law of monopolization, price fixing, group boycotts, vertical restraints such as tie-ins and distribution restrictions, and mergers. Some elementary principles of economic analysis are employed but economics is not a prerequisite. LEC.

Examines contemporary issues in international trade practice and policy. Among the practical topics covered in detail are: (1) antidumping and countervailing duties against dumping and unfair subsidies, respectively; (2) safeguard actions against fair foreign competition; (3) protection of intellectual property rights against infringement; (4) trade in agriculture (including sanitary and phytosanitary issues); and (5) trade in services. Among the policy topics emphasized, from both "our" and "their" perspective, are: (1) trade relations with Third World and Muslim countries; (2) the critical link between trade and national security; (3) the complex interaction among trade, human rights, labor rights, and the environment; and (4) efforts to protect local culture in an era of globalization. The course is designed not only for students intending to work in international trade law, but also for students interested in careers anywhere in the world in other fields of, or relating to, international law who seek an appreciation of the increasingly sophisticated connections among these fields and trade. Prerequisite/Corequisite: A basic course in International Trade Regulation (e.g., suitable summer study program or work experience), concurrent registration in such a course, or permission of the instructor. LEC.

Fall semester. Legal aspects of typical American enterprise structures, including partnerships and corporations. The elements of agency relations are included. Emphasis is upon the control, management, financing, and regulation of closely held corporations. LEC.

Spring semester. A continuation of Business Associations I involving further study of corporate problems. Primary emphasis is on the legal responsibilities of directors and dominant shareholders of both publicly and closely held corporations, and the remedies for enforcement thereof. Also included are brief introductions to corporate capital structure and the Securities Act of 1933. Prerequisite: Business Associations I. LEC.

Provides students with an introduction to the areas of law which they must understand to represent visual artists, collectors, and museums. Covers, among other subjects, intellectual property rights in art, licensing of artworks, sales and purchase of artworks, importation and export of art, etc. LEC.

A problem approach to planning important business transactions, such as organization of a close corporation; organization of a public company; dividend and other corporate distributions; corporate liquidations; and corporate combinations such as merger and consolidation. Each problem is analyzed from the perspectives of tax, securities regulation, and corporate law. Prerequisite: Business Associations I and II or Business Organizations, Federal Income Taxation, and Taxation of Business Enterprises. LEC.

An intensive skills course designed to teach the principles of contemporary commercial drafting, including how to translate a business deal into contract concepts; draft each of a contract's parts; draft with clarity and without ambiguity; add value to a deal; work through the drafting process; and review and comment on a contract. Weekly written homework is required. Prerequisite: Business Associations I or Business Organizations recommended but not required. LEC.

This course examines the law of biology and the biology of law. Topics covered will include law and evolution, law and genetics, law and neuroscience, law and ecology, climate change law, biodiversity law, law and biotechnology, reproductive law, behavioral law and economics, and law and deextinction. LEC.

This course will examine capital punishment as a system of law and will address many of the intertwining questions raised by the existence of the death penalty in America: How, as a statutory and procedural matter, is the death penalty implemented in America? What procedures are unique to the imposition of death as a punishment? Why are those procedures used, and to what extent are they either adequate or inadequate? What are the arguments for and against the death penalty and how persuasive are they? Do we, as lawyers and as individuals, accept capital punishment as a working legal system. LEC.

Addresses the law and practice of commercial arbitration, a rapidly growing form of alternative dispute resolution. Drafting arbitration agreements, the enforceability of arbitration agreements, selecting arbitrators, the arbitration hearing, and the enforceability of arbitration awards. Gives special emphasis to arbitration of international commercial disputes and the institutional rules under which such arbitrations proceed. LEC.

A study of the law governing modern payment systems, including checks and other negotiable instruments governed by Article 3 of the Uniform Commercial Code and bank transactions governed by 4 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Other payment systems that may be examined include credit cards, debit cards, automated clearinghouse payments, stored value cards, wire transfers, and letters of credit. LEC.

This is an upper-level course that will provide a detailed examination of the law associated with the construction industry. The course will be divided between contract formation issues and litigation issues. The contract formation portion will explore design and engineering services, professional responsibility, bidding, bidding government contracts, contract preparation, subcontracting, indemnity and insurance issues. The course will then focus on litigation issues, including liens, delay claims, construction defects, manufacturer's warranties, and design defects. There will be an in-depth examination of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) and AGC (Associated General Contractors) form documents and the use of ADR in the construction field. LEC.

An introduction to criminal procedure, including investigation and police practices, pre-trial proceedings, trials, sentencing, and review proceedings. Particular emphasis on the application of the exclusionary rule to arrest, search and seizure, interrogation procedures, and identification procedures. LEC.

A general introduction to and comparison of major legal systems of the world, with special emphasis given to how those systems reflect differing cultural values in addressing common legal questions. A major goal of the course is to deepen the students' understanding of law and practice in the United States and to broaden their perspective of law beyond the boundaries of the common law systems. (Same as ISP 876.) LEC.

Explores the many interesting facets of complex litigation in the context of mass torts. Bifurcated and special proceedings, class actions, consolidation, multidistrict litigation, and complex joinder issues, as well as substantive issues which arise in mass tort litigation. LEC.

An analysis and consideration of problems respecting the law applicable in transactions or to relationships with elements in more than one state or country. The law to be applied in such situations, the theoretical bases of choice-of-law, and the issues which these matters can present under the Constitution of the United States are discussed. Far-reaching changes are occurring in basic assumptions and methods of approach in the field of choice-of-law, and special attention is given to these developments. Finally, the class considers the recognition and enforcement of foreign state judgments in terms of both standards and requirements that flow from relevant provisions of the Constitution. LEC.

This course will examine federal and state law governing the formation, terms, and enforcement of consumer contracts. Topics covered will include deception and information in contract formation; regulation of consumer credit, goods, and services; creditors' collection tactics; and consumer remedies. LEC.

This class considers the role of law in regulating, managing, utilizing, and conserving the earth's rich biological diversity. Biodiversity law is explored from the perspectives of common law, statutes, agency regulations, and international law. Special consideration is made of the role science plays in informing biodiversity law and policy. Prerequisite: Environmental Law Survey or Biolaw. LEC.

Even though often unrealized by practicing attorneys in other fields, Employee Benefits Law has two complementary components: tax-qualified plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans (sometimes referred to as "executive compensation"). Moreover, typically an employee benefits lawyer will handle both components in his or her practice. This course covers the practical aspects of representing employers and employees in regard to qualified pension plans profit sharing plans, and other forms of tax-sheltered deferred compensation. In addition, the course explores various types of non-qualified deferred compensation agreements used as supplements to, or substitutions for, retirement benefits available under qualified arrangements such as bonus, employment, severance and stock-based compensation agreements. This course will emphasize how ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code regulate both types of plans. LEC.

A survey of the law governing civil suits against government entities and officials to remedy violations of federal constitutional rights. The focus of the class is litigation under 42 U.S.C. section 1983, which creates a civil cause of action for damages and injunctive relief to remedy violations of federal constitutional rights. This area of law is sometimes referred to as "constitutional torts, " because it involves civil litigation that is in many ways similar to traditional tort actions. The course covers the elements of a Section 1983 action, the constitutional immunity of states and state officers, defenses to Section 1983 liability, defendants' liability for attorneys fees under 42 U.S.C. section 1988, civil suits against federal defendants, and the relationship between Section 1983 and federal habeas corpus. LEC.

Examines the application of constitutional law and principles to selected social issues. Specific topics will be announced; topics may include such subjects as constitutional history, constitutional interpretation, the constitutional law of schools, gender and constitutional issues, or national security law. A writing project typically is required in place of a final examination. LEC.

Explores the major copyright issues posed by such categories of digital works as software, data bases containing factual and other public domain content, multi-media materials, computer generated or assisted works, and audio recordings containing digital sampling. LEC.

This survey of bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law covers topics such as: Chapters 7, 11, and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code and enforcement of money judgments outside of bankruptcy. Prerequisite: Commercial Law: Secured Transactions and, Business Associations I or Business Organizations. LEC.

Students are assigned to the office of the United States Attorney for Kansas or Kansas state district attorney offices as arranged by the instructor. Students assist prosecutors in virtually all phases of the criminal process, including criminal trials. A weekly seminar focusing on issues confronting criminal prosecutors accompanies the field work. Unless specifically authorized, students must be enrolled in both semesters of the academic year for three credit hours per semester. Prerequisite: Evidence and qualification under Kansas Rule 719. See Clinic and Externship Rules in the Academic Regulations section of this bulletin. Prerequisite or corequisite: Trial Advocacy. FLD.

This course will consider the process of elections, campaign finance, and voting at both the state and federal levels. Topics addressed will include the role of political parties, voter and candidate eligibility, design of electoral districts, the mechanics of voting and vote counting, federal and state campaign regulation, and challenges to election results. LEC.

This introductory business law course is a one-semester equivalent of the two-semester Business Associations I and Business Associations II sequence. Students may only enroll in and receive credit for this course or the Business Associations I and II sequence, but not both. Topics to be covered include the law of agency, the formation, ownership, and management of partnerships, limited liability entities, and corporations, and the roles of federal law, state law, and contract in regulating the relationships among the various participants in a business venture, including fiduciary duties and enforcement mechanisms. Special attention will be paid to closely held business associations. This course will satisfy prerequisite requirements for any course requiring either Business Associations I or Business Associations II. LEC.

Is sustainability the business of corporations? Can corporations help solve environmental crises and poverty? Should firms be "socially responsible" and what does law have to do with it anyway? In this seminar, we will consider these questions and other major debates surrounding the intersections of corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and the law. Topics to be covered include the relationship between law, ethics, and CSR, the "business case for CSR", alternatives to traditional profit-driven and shareholder-focused corporate models, and problems related to the accountability of multinational corporations for harms caused abroad. Each session will be framed by an area of law that intersects with CSR, such as labor and employment, the environment, human rights, finance, and sustainable development. This seminar satisfies the upper-level writing requirement, as a final paper based on independent research is required for this course. There are no prerequisites. Approved for Business and Environmental Law Certificate requirements. LEC.

Allows students to earn academic credit for performing legal work under the supervision of a practicing attorney at approved governmental agencies, non-profit legal services organizations, and non-profit international organizations. Students will work a specified number of hours per week, complete a goals memo, maintain weekly journals of their experience, and write a reflective paper. Students may enroll for more than one semester with permission of the Director, provided that no student may count more than 6 hours of Field Placement Program credit toward the credit required for graduation. No student may enroll in the Field Placement Program in a placement in which the student was formerly an employee, is currently an employee, or has an offer of employment. No student may enroll in Field Placement Program in a field placement for which there is an existing specialized Law School clinic or externship program without the prior permission of both the director of the affected specialized Law School clinic or externship program and the director of the Field Placement Program. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. FLD.

Provide assistance to the inmates incarcerated at the federal and state facilities in Kansas. Representation includes direct appeals, post-conviction and DNA litigation. Students interview clients, conduct fact investigation, determine the scope of representation and write court briefs. Students who satisfy Kansas Supreme Court Rule 719 may participate in court hearings. Students must enroll for the academic year, for 3 credits per semester. Concurrent enrollment in LAW 896 is required. Prerequisite: Corequisite: Criminal Procedure. FLD.

Designed to acquaint students with the issues surrounding the professional skills, substance, and ethics that are critical to student participation in LAW 895, Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies. A corequisite with LAW 895 and enrollment is limited to students concurrently enrolled in that course. LEC.

This course is designed to provide the student with: (1) a brief overview of US labor history in the private and public sectors, (2) a review of private sector labor law principles dealing with collective bargaining, (3) an examination of public sector labor law nationally and in Missouri, Kansas and selected other states, (4) an overview of the collective bargaining process, (5) a detailed and practical examination of issues arising during collective bargaining negotiations, (6) an overview of procedures used to resolve bargaining disputes, and (7) an exploration of the types of disputes arising under collective bargaining agreements and the use of grievance and arbitration procedures to resolve such disputes. LEC.

This course will explore developing trends in the increasingly prevalent field of electronically stored information ("ESI") in litigation. Students will learn about the various types of ESI and gain an understanding of how the federal rules impact ESI issues. The curriculum will include discussions of recent cases, the amended federal rules of civil procedure, and the best practices in litigating recurring e-discovery issues. The course follows the natural progression of a case, providing students the opportunity navigate e-discovery matters at each step in the litigation process, including: records retention policies, litigation holds, discovery requests, search methods, production and metadata, spoliation sanctions, and ultimate admission of ESI evidence at trial. No advanced computer skills are required for this class. LEC.

The course examines the laws governing the development and expansion of tribal economies including federal regulations governing the alienability of land, secured transactions, tribal commercial law and international trade. The course includes a detailed discussion of the taxation of activities occurring within Indigenous Nations. LEC.

Involves students in representation of elderly individuals primarily in consumer, housing, and public benefits litigation. Students work under the supervision of attorneys from Kansas Legal Services and faculty from the School of Law. A one-hour classroom component accompanies the field-work requirement. FLD.

Explores the many interesting facets of complex litigation in the context of mass torts. Topics include class actions, consolidation, multidistrict litigation, and complex joinder issues, as well as substantive issues that may arise in mass tort litigation. LEC.

An intensive study of one or more aspects of environmental law, such as wildlife law, energy policy, marine pollution controls, and so forth. May be repeated for credit, provided there is not duplication of subject matter. LEC.

A general survey of the legal mechanisms for protecting the environment. It considers the justifications for and economic implications of regulating activities with potential adverse effects on the environment and the various sources of legal constraints (common law, constitutional, and statutory) on those activities. The course provides an introduction to environmental litigation, to environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act, to endangered species protection, and to the various forms of legislative and administrative controls on and inducements to avoid polluting activities reflected in statutes such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the statutes designed to control contamination of land by hazardous substances. LEC.

A study of legal principles relating to transmission of property by gift or at death and the vehicles available for these purposes. Primary emphasis is on estate and gift taxation and income taxation of estates and trusts. Prerequisite: Federal Income Taxation and Trusts and Estates. LEC.

Introduction to marriage and the family as the basic social unit in Western society. Topics include marriage, divorce, annulment, separate maintenance, alimony, child custody and support, antenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, adoption, legitimacy, and minority. Practice points include financial planning, tax considerations, and the attorney's responsibility. LEC.

This course addresses the role of the federal courts in our constitutional federal system. Topics covered include justiceability, Congressional power over the jurisdiction of the courts, federal common law, abstention doctrines, Supreme Court review of state court decisions, ant the role of the state courts in enforcing federal law. Prerequisite: Jurisdiction or permission of the instructor. LEC.

An introduction to Accounting and Auditing for Lawyers. Coverage includes components of Generally accepted Accounting Principles related to assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses; financial statements analysis; auditing standards; corporate governance; audit failure and forensic accounting. Not open to students who have completed an accounting course while an undergraduate or graduate student. LEC.

A study of federal criminal prosecution, focusing on the crimes of fraud and political corruption, drug trafficking and money laundering, group/organizational crimes such as conspiracies and RICO violations, false statements to federal officers, and obstruction of justice. Will also consider the federal/state prosecution relationships and overlap of their respective jurisdictions, as well as the federal forfeiture statutes. The working and application of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines will also be studied. LEC.

A survey of the federal income tax system, with special emphasis on the tax laws generally applicable to all taxpayers. Topics include income determination, deductions, credits, planning, and procedure. Historical development and policy issues are addressed throughout the course. LEC.

Addresses the law and policy of the United States regarding Indian nations and their members. Issues include the origins and contours of federal plenary power over Indian affairs, the scope of inherent tribal sovereignty, the limits of state power in Indian country, civil and criminal jurisdiction, and gaming. (Same as ISP 824.) LEC.

Examines the history, doctrine, texts, and role of Islamic law (Shari'a) throughout the world. This course complements (but is independent of) LAW 879. The course focuses on the background and birth of the Arab-Islamic Empire, the life and times of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the development of Islam, the Rashidun, Umayyad, and Abbasid Caliphates, Moghul and Ottoman Empires, the Koran and Sunnah and other sacred texts, the Sunni-Shi'a split, the principal schools of Islamic law, the status of women and religious minorities, and principles of the substantive areas of law, including criminal, family, inheritance, contract, property, business, banking, and international law. Also covered are issues of economic growth, marginalization, and terrorism LEC.

Addresses prominent legal and policy issues associated with the delivery of health care. Among these issues: access to care; credentialing of health care personnel; insurance coverage; antitrust strictures; cost containment; and proposals for systemic reform. Covers at least one of the following bioethical issues: organ transplantation; abortion; euthanasia; and rationing of care. LEC.

A survey of significant legal and policy issues, both historical and current, associated with the delivery of health care. Among these issues are the patient-provider relationship, medical malpractice, the right to die, hospital licensing and physician credentialing, medical staff structure, insurance coverage disputes, and current ideas for health care reform. LEC.

This class explores the rich and complex body of law that regulates food, pharmaceuticals,biologics, blood products, cosmetics, medical devices, and carcinogens. In addition to comprehensive coverage of the Federal Food, Drugs, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, and the public policy underlying it, other relevant federal and state statutes are explored. Furthermore, relevant international agreements and comparable legal frameworks of other countries are considered. Special topics include expedited or experimental approval of drugs for terminally ill patients, the importation of foreign drugs or food, genetic testing, therapies, and enhancements, genetically modified food , and regulation of carcinogens. LEC.

A seminar focused on the unique legal issues facing colleges and universities. The over 4000 institutions of higher education in the United States require legal services, especially as law schools fight suits alleging they misrepresented job prospects to students and the Supreme Court rules on landmark affirmative action cases such as Fisher v. University of Texas (now returning to the Court after remand). The course will explore academic freedom, tenure, and student rights and discipline, issues that distinguish institutions of higher education from other corporate entities. Consideration will be given to distinctions between public and private institutions. Grades will be based on three memoranda that students will research and write, and on class participation. LEC.

Topics such as standards for the admission of immigrants; nonimmigrant visas for students, workers, and tourists; the regulation and exclusion of undocumented aliens; legal procedures for admission, exclusion, and deportation; refugee law; and citizenship law. LEC.

Students may undertake a project which involves investigation, research, and scholarship in a particular area of the law. The research must be done under the supervision of a faculty member and must culminate in the writing of a research paper in publishable form. Students must complete and submit for faculty feedback at least two drafts or one draft and one outline in addition to the final research paper. The faculty supervisor must provide meaningful feedback to the student on the outline and draft(s). The final product of the independent research must be submitted at a date set by the faculty supervisor which is no later than the last day of classes of the semester. A student may not earn academic credit for independent research unless (1) in the case of a regular semester, that student is enrolled in at least 3 additional credit hours during the same semester, or (2) in the case of summer school, that student is enrolled in at least 2.5 additional credit hours in either five-week summer session. Students must successfully complete 10-15 double spaced, typed pages of work for every credit hour earned. No student may enroll for more than 2 hours of independent research in one semester, and no student may count more than 6 hours of independent research credit toward the credit required for graduation. However, a student may receive a maximum of 2.5 hours credit for independent research in either of the summer school sessions if that student is otherwise enrolled in 7.5 additional hours during the summer session. Prerequisite: Forty hours of law school credit and an overall average of at least 2.0 at the time of enrolling. RSH.

A study of state and federal regulation of the employer-employee relationship, as distinguished from the regulation of collective bargaining between management and unions. Coverage will include the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Unemployment compensation, and employment-at-will. LEC.

The nature of insurance; regulation of insurance companies; insurable interest; interests of third persons in insurance policies and proceeds; the insured event; warranties; representations; concealment; the marketing of insurance. LEC.

The law of remedies is an important part of understanding substantive law, shedding light on how our civil justice system attempts to "right" wrongs. This course will examine the way in which the law responds to the violations of rights, including an exploration of compensatory damages, punitive damages, and equitable remedies, such as restitution and injunctive relief. LEC.

Spring semester. Open only to the team of students (usually five) selected by a competition held in the preceding fall semester. All students (including first-year students) are eligible to compete for a position on the team. Once selected, the team participates in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, for which briefs are prepared over the winter recess and oral arguments are usually held in February. Graded Credit/No Credit. FLD.

This advanced business law course examines the legal and financial aspects of corporate finance. Topics include the time value of money, valuation of stocks and bonds, the use of debt, equity, and derivative instruments in the firm's capital structure, dividends and distributions, and finance theories, including portfolio theory, the capital asset pricing model, and the efficient capital market hypothesis. Prerequisite or Corequisite: Business Associations II or Business Organizations. LEC.

This course is an introduction to many of the legal issues that face a person who is elderly or has a disability, and focuses on the practical aspects of advising such a client. Topics covered are income (including Social Security and SSI), asset management (including Durable Powers of Attorney and living trusts), estate planning, special needs trusts, health care planning and decision making, Medicare, long-term care planning, long-term insurance, Medicaid, housing issues, guardianship, elder abuse, and end of life issues. LEC.

Students serve as law clerks for state and federal judges performing legal research for the judges and observing proceedings in the courtroom and chambers. There is a classroom component to the clinic. Students also submit weekly journals to the clinic director and prepare either a paper based on their experiences or make a class presentation. Students must enroll for the academic year, for three credits per semester. FLD.

Considers issues in legal and political theory or philosophy. The focus is on theories of adjudication, theories of law, and application of these theories to particular cases and problems. Other topics may be added, such as the philosophy of criminal punishment, the theory of legal interpretation, feminist jurisprudence, law and literature, or law and sociology. A writing project is required in place of a final examination. LEC.

A study of the juvenile justice system, juvenile courts, and the children and youth who come under juvenile court jurisdiction. Among the subjects covered will be: the history and philosophical basis of the juvenile court, child abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, status offenders, children who commit criminal offenses, taking children and juveniles into custody, search and seizure, interrogation, intake, informal supervision, diversion, protective and temporary custody, pretrial detention, waiver of adult court, and adjudicatory and dispositional hearings. LEC.

The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy publishes articles by scholars, public officials, and others, including student staff members, on public policy topics. The staff of the Journal is chosen on the basis of a yearly writing competition. Second year members of the Journal select articles for publication, edit the articles, and undertake the other responsibilities of publication. Journal members may not enroll concurrently in the Kansas Law Review. FLD.

The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy publishes articles by scholars, public officials, and others, including student staff members, on public policy topics. The staff of the Journal is chosen on the basis of a yearly writing competition. First year members of the Journal undertake editorial work and write comments for possible publication. Journal members may not enroll concurrently in the Kansas Law Review. FLD.

This practice-oriented course treats basic transactions in land with primary emphasis on sales transactions involving residences and farms. A sales transaction is surveyed from the initial stage of marketing with real estate brokers through the making of the contract and the financing to final consummation and transfer of title. Topics are conveyancing, risks of title defects, and methods of title assurance, remedies on contract breach, American recording systems, condominiums, land descriptions, and financing methods. LEC.

Examines the regulatory aspects of the sale of goods across national borders. Key topics include the history and institutions of the GATT-WTO system, accession to the WTO, dispute settlement under WTO rules, regulation of import duties, rules on customs classification and valuation, non-tariff barriers, statutory forms of relief from import competition, government regulation of export trade, regional trade regimes, and ideological and policy issues relating to trade liberalization and globalization. This course complements (but is independent of) International Commerce and Investment and is the basis for more advanced study on international trade law. LEC.

Examines the transactional aspects of the sale of goods and direct investment across national borders. The focus is on private international business transactions. Among the subjects covered regarding international commerce (sale of goods) are contract drafting, documentary sales, commercial terms, electronic commerce, agency and distributorship, and contract performance. Among the subjects covered regarding international investment are joint ventures, corporate codes of conduct, corrupt practices, transfer pricing, expropriation, and dispute resolution. This course complements (but is independent of) International Trade Regulation. LEC.

An examination of the substantive law of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Coverage includes structure of the transaction; the buyer's due diligence process; hostile takeover defenses and the responsibilities of the target's board; state takeover legislation and issues of federal preemption; friendly acquisitions and the seller board's duties; conflicts between majority and minority shareholders; and federal regulation of tender offers via the Williams Act. Prerequisite: Business Associations I and II (Business Associations II may be taken as a corequisite) or Business Organizations. LEC.

Spring semester. A national competition, the goal of which is to provide participants with a meaningful and realistic simulation of transactional practice. The competition involves regional rounds followed by a national round of regional winners. Each round consists of three distinct phases. First, students work in teams of two or three to prepare a proposed draft agreement on behalf of one of the two parties to a business transaction. Second, each team prepares mark-ups to draft agreements prepared by the opposing teams they will encounter at the regional or national site. Finally, the teams meet to negotiate the final contours of the deal. Enrollment requires permission of the instructor and is competitive. Graded on a credit/no credit basis. Prerequisite: Contract Drafting and permission of instructor. LEC.

A course covering advanced topics in evidence and advanced trial techniques. Members of the class will be competitively selected and will be eligible to compete in a traditional regional or national mock trial competition in which they present motions in limine, opening statements, closing arguments, call witnesses, conduct direct and cross-examinations, and introduce other evidence. Students try out for the class individually but are then paired with another member of the class when competing on behalf of the law school. The classroom component requires students to practice their evidentiary and trial skills weekly. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Prerequisite: LAW 908. LEC.

The Kansas Law Review publishes scholarly commentary on the law by professors, practicing lawyers, judges, and law students. Students are selected for membership by competition, and are responsible for publishing five issues of the Review each year. Students select articles for publication, edit the articles, check citations, and write notes and comments for possible publication. Students must enroll for the academic year, for one-two credits per semester. Students enrolled in this course will not be permitted to enroll in the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. FLD.

This course focuses on the risks to personal privacy that arise from use of digital technologies to communicate and collect, store and share personal data. The course also focuses on laws that recognize and aim to protect digital privacy rights, as well as the tension between privacy protection and the value placed on freedom and openness in a democratic society. LEC.

Students provide legal assistance, including direct client representation, to indigent child and adult clients with active cases in Douglas County District Court and Lawrence Municipal Court. Recent areas of representation have included juvenile criminal defense, misdemeanor municipal defense, family law, protection from abuse, landlord-tenant, and other civil cases. A weekly seminar meeting accompanies the field work and allows students and instructors to study the methodologies underlying lawyering tasks in context, thereby merging theory with practice. Supervision meetings with faculty are designed to encourage creative case planning, practice management, and individual professional development through feedback and critique. Students are required to be qualified under Kansas Rule 719, which requires a minimum of 60 hours of course work. Students must apply to the clinic and be accepted before enrolling. Applications and deadlines are available in Room 105. Prerequisite: Trial Advocacy and Professional Responsibility; Qualification under Kansas Rule 719. See Clinic and Externship Rules in the Academic Regulations section of this bulletin. FLD.

This course examines the legislative process, the relationship between the common law and statutes, and statutory interpretation. It focuses primarily on the theoretical and practical aspects of statutory interpretation, including overall theories of interpretation, the canons of statutory interpretation, and the use of legislative history. Because statutory interpretation is a skill needed by all attorneys, the course is designed to be of interest to any student. LEC.

This simulation class is designed to give students an in-depth working understanding of our multilayered lawmaking process that will be useful in a legislative practice or when researching legislative history in any type of law practice. In this class, students will fill the roles of legislators in a fictional senate. They will draft legislation, give speeches, form strategies, and negotiate with others. Additionally, they will gain hands-on experience working in the Kansas Legislature. By the end of this class, students will be able to guide a bill through the lawmaking process, assist clients and others in solving problems using the legislative process, and consider lawmaking a viable option for you to assist clients or to solve societal ills. LEC.

The structure, functions, and jurisdictions of local governmental units; intergovernmental arrangements and relationships, financing and staffing local government; tort liability of local governments. LEC.

Legal issues pertaining to professional and amateur sports: terms and enforcement of professional contracts, including the role of arbitration; labor law and collective bargaining issues; the representation of professional athletes and the regulation of agents; antitrust aspects; intellectual property rights; the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the regulation of intercollegiate sports; and issues of racial and gender equity. LEC.

The study of the First Amendment freedoms of speech and press. The focus is on both traditional media, such as newspapers and broadcast radio and television, and digital media, including blogs, that rely on the Internet to distribute news, opinion, entertainment, and advertising. LEC.

First Amendment Advocacy is an opportunity for students to develop and apply the kinds of skills and knowledge possessed by First Amendment advocates, particularly media lawyers. Students plan and practice how to advise and represent hypothetical clients who are concerned with expressive freedom and the free flow of news and information. In class, students perform as advocates, negotiators, and evaluators of liability risks. Students also perform in the role of lawyer as citizen by planning and practicing how to advance general understanding of the First Amendment. Assignments include research and analysis of media-related law, regulation and public policy. Written work is completed in the form of documents commonly used in practice. LEC.

Spring semester. A traditional moot court competition based upon an appeal to the United States Supreme Court with written briefs and oral argument rounds. The competition is conducted as a tournament, with elimination rounds and seeding of teams of pairings after the preliminary rounds. Students compete as two-person teams with two teams advancing to the final round. The competition is limited to second-year students and is usually completed by Mid-April. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Prerequisite: Second-year status. FLD.

Spring semester. The Moot Court Council consists of the third-year students who represent KU in various national moot court competitions. All students are selected through the KU spring moot court competition (Law 960) in their second year. The council administers the KU spring moot court competition under the supervision of the faculty member responsible for the course. The council also assists with tasks associated with participation in the various national competitions as assigned by the faculty member responsible for the course. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. FLD.

The Mock Trial Council consists of third-year students who successfully completed Mock Trial Competition in their second year. These students help administer the selection process for the mock trial competition under the supervision of a faculty member responsible for the mock trial competitions and course. The council also assists in identifying competitions and with tasks associated with participation in regional and national mock trial competitions and with preparing our competition teams to compete. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. Prerequisite: LAW 949. LEC.

This course provides an introduction to the US energy sector in its legal and regulatory context. Energy law is an interdisciplinary field linking public utility law, natural resources law, land use law, and environmental law. From wind and solar to natural gas, energy law structures the production, processing, delivery, and consumption of energy resources for electricity and transportation fuel. The overarching focus of this course is the dynamic state of energy law and policy today, with an emphasis on current events and emerging issues for the field. LEC.

Students compete in various national and international moot court competitions (except the Jessup International Moot Court Competition, LAW 929). All students are selected through the KU spring Moot Court Competition (LAW 960) in their second year. Teams will write a brief and participate in practice oral arguments as required by the faculty member responsible for three particular competition, including at least three arguments judged by law faculty, practicing lawyers, or judges. Students travel to regional, national, and international competitions as applicable. Competitions include: Bankruptcy Law Moot Court, Criminal Law Moot Court, Criminal Procedure Moot Court, European Law Students Association International Trade Moot Court, Environmental Law Moot Court, First Amendment Moot Court, National Moot Court, and Stetson International Environmental Moot Court and Health Law Moot Court. Students also must enroll in the Moot Court Council, LAW 961. Graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. FLD.

Focuses on the legal issues affecting nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, with primary emphasis on state nonprofit corporation codes and the Internal Revenue Code. Issues covered include allocation of governance responsibility between members and directors, the role of states attorneys general, charitable trust law, obtaining and maintaining tax exemption, private inurement and private benefit, intermediate sanctions, reporting and disclosure requirements, and consequences of unrelated business income. Prerequisite: Business Associations I or Business Organizations and Federal Income Taxation. LEC.

The oil and gas lease; expressed and implied duties under a lease; the effect of various conditions of ownership on oil and gas transactions; oil and gas conveyances; unitization and pooling; conservation of oil and gas. LEC.

This course provides a detailed examination of natural resource law as it applies to Indian Country. Among the topics to be discussed are water law, environmental protection, and subsurface property rights. (Same as ISP 882.) LEC.

An introduction to substantive patent law, copyright law, and trademark registration designed (1) to provide background knowledge for those interested primarily in the general law practice and (2) to provide a foundation for future specialization in patents, copyrights, and trademarks. LEC.

Designed for the student who intends to enter a private general practice in Kansas. Topics include substantive law of Kansas in domestic relations, landlord-tenant relations, debt collection, probate, and selected areas of criminal law and general civil practice. Students will develop practical skills in pleading and discovery techniques. LEC.

This skills course is designed to teach the fundamentals of pretrial practice from the client's first visit to the day before trial begins. Students will learn to interview and counsel clients, consider alternatives to litigation, draft pleadings, conduct and respond to discovery, and negotiate and draft settlement documents. FLD.

Fall and spring semesters. Must be completed by the time the student finishes 60 hours of law school. Considers some of the history of the profession, training for the practice, the lawyer in the office, the lawyer and the public, the lawyer as lawmaker, limitations on personal conduct, the lawyer as judge, the canons of professional ethics, and many other incidents to the practice. Required course. LEC.

A general survey of the legal system governing the behavior of states and public international organizations. Includes the nature and sources of international law and the role of international law and procedures in the maintenance of world peace and security, the protection of human rights, the management of the environment, and the regulation of international economic relations. LEC.

Devoted to the law and legal systems that govern the classification and use of one-third of America's land mass. Includes a survey of the acquisition and disposition of the public domain; general federal statutes and doctrines that affect public land law; and different forms of federal lands classifications, including national parks, scenic rivers, and grazing lands. (Same as ISP 877.) LEC.

The Public Policy Practicum undertakes in-depth, balanced policy studies in response to requests from public officials. Individual students, or teams of students, supervised by the clinic director, prepare the research reports. Designed to give students practical experience in applying analytical policy methods to public policy issues. FLD.

This class explores the doctrine, policy and practice of patent law in the United States. It examines the challenges posed to patent law by new technologies, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, the Internet and nanotechnology. Patent law systems in other countries and the role of international patent treaties are also considered. Prerequisite: Intellectual Property Law. LEC.

This course focuses on the practical application of patent law principles to the practice of patent law, including: assessing patentability, preparing and prosecuting patent applications, and analyzing infringement concepts. Students will examine patent statutes and United States Patent and Trademark rules and guidelines governing patent prosecution, as well as court decisions impacting and interpreting patents. The course will involve in-class and take-home assignments and workshops designed to expose students to situations encountered in actual patent practice, including the preparation o fan opinion of patentability, office action response, and drafting claims. Prerequisite: Intellectual Property. LEC.

This course focuses on theory, empirical research, and doctrine related to substantive sex crimes and collateral restrictions on sex offenders. In particular, the course addresses rape, child molestation, incest, child pornography, prostitution, obscenity, and the legal pornography industry. In the latter part of the semester, students will also explore emerging legal issues LEC.

This course will explore the emergence of the LGBTQ civil rights movement and will cover numerous legal topics at the intersection of law and practice involving issues significant to LGBTQ clients. Among others, topics will include: marriage, divorce, employment discrimination, family creation, healthcare and tax consequences. Students will be asked to prepare legal documents and will complete a major drafting project. The course seeks to provide students with skills and knowledge to meet the needs of this unique client base. LEC.

This seminar is required of all first year S.J.D. candidates. During the first semester we will read and discuss a number of topics including a basic introduction to the American legal system and the American legal profession, common law reasoning and analysis, including the theory of precedent, introduction to common law research, legal scholarship, law reviews and other professional publications, and basic principles of academic writing including introduction to copyright and plagiarism. Students will be required to write a series of short papers on several of these subjects. During the second semester students will work on topics related to their dissertation research and will present the results of their research to the seminar as a whole for critique and analysis. Students will also be expected to prepare a written version of this research that is suitable for publication. The seminar will meet for two hours bimonthly throughout the academic year. LEC.

A basic course in the finance of the acquisition and development of real estate. Course involves the mortgage market, basic security transactions, and remedies of secured creditors including mortgage foreclosure. LEC.

Examines legal, governmental, political, social, cultural, and economic issues associated with American Indian tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Includes the source and scope of tribal sovereignty; the threats to tribal sovereignty; and the methods by which tribal sovereignty can be strengthened and revitalized. (Same as ISP 883.) LEC.

Explores various topics omitted or covered only lightly in the Family Law course. Content varies but may include: establishment of parentage, protection of putative fathers, protection of children, children of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), adoption, international adoption, parental prerogatives, children beyond parental control, child neglect, child abuse, medical decisions for children, torts between parent and child, divorce between parent and child, severing parental rights involuntarily, parent versus state custody, and abduction of children. In place of a final exam, students will complete two short writing exercises, write a substantial seminar paper, and make an oral presentation to the class in a CLE format. Prerequisite: Family Law. LEC.

This seminar is required of all second year S.J.D. students and may be audited by all S.J.D students beyond two years with permission of the instructor. During this seminar students will conduct research and writing of their S.J.D. dissertations. Students will be required to submit each chapter of their dissertations to a third year writing assistant and to the instructor for editing and revision as part of their seminar work. Edited and revised chapters will be presented to the seminar as a whole for critique and analysis. Second year S.J.D. students will be expected to submit at least one chapter of their dissertations during the second semester of their second year. Second year S.J.D. students who are not in residence will be excused from attending seminar meetings but will be required to engage in the editorial and revision process and to meet virtually with the instructor as needed. The seminar will meet for two hours bimonthly during the academic year. LEC.

A skills course designed to teach the fundamentals of trial practice including opening and closing statements, direct and cross examination, use of demonstrative evidence, introducing exhibits, making evidentiary objections, and courtroom procedure and decorum. Combines skills workshops, lecture/demonstrations, and a mock trial. Prerequisite: Evidence. FLD.

A broad view of the problems of disease, treatment, and health care delivery from a population-based perspective. The focus is on collective responsibility for ensuring the conditions for a healthy society and the laws that relate to that objective. Topics may include international human rights and bioterrorism; infectious disease control, such as vaccination, quarantine, and surveillance; problems of urbanization, including sanitation, obesity, and public safety; constitutional rights, such as privacy, free speech, freedom of religion, and regulation of professions; formal and informal regulation through public health authorities and tort liability. LEC.

A study of water rights including the riparian and prior appropriation doctrines for surface water, and the various doctrines for groundwater. Private and public water distribution organizations, and special water districts. Water pollution control. Interstate conflicts over water resources. Federal government involvement in water distribution including federal powers and programs. Indian and reserved rights. Kansas water law. LEC.

Interstate succession; execution, construction, and revocation of wills; rights of the surviving spouse (including elective share); creation, construction, and termination of trusts; powers of appointment; future interests and the Rule Against Perpetuities; basic introduction to the federal taxation of estates and gifts; fiduciary administration of trusts and estates. LEC.

Primary emphasis will be placed on workers' compensation (industrial insurance), where some of the basic problems of work-connected injuries and diseases will be considered. Current proposals for compensating the traffic victim without reference to fault will also be treated by way of comparison to the workers' compensation system. As time permits, other areas of social legislation may be surveyed. LEC.

Students are assigned research projects from participating tribal courts as arranged by the instructor. Students provide research assistance to tribal court personnel in an array of projects that range from tribal code development, legal research and drafting of legal memoranda and judicial orders. Prerequisite: Federal Indian Law; Sovereignty, Self-Determination, and the Indigenous Nations; or Native American Natural Resources. LEC.

This course will examine the law, policy, politics, economics, and cultural effects of Indian gaming. It will focus primarily on the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), including its origins, structure, and real-world effects. In addition to mastering the pertinent legal issues, students will be asked to consider a series of questions about Indian gaming law, including (1) what are its real objectives? (2) does IGRA, as it is currently being applied, promote those objectives? and (3) given the expansion of non-Indian gaming in recent years, should IGRA be revised to better serve those objectives? Course materials will include IGRA and related case law, materials from the United States Department of Interior setting forth current federal policy, and various tribal-state compacts. LEC.

The class is not offered for the Fall 2018 semester.

Academic Calendar

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